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Sunday, October 16, 2011

Chocolate Week 2011 London

It's CHOCOLATE WEEK 2011 in London! Yesterday and today (starting at 11 AM) you can stuff yourself full of London's finest artisanal chockies as well as Italian, Ecuadorian, oh world wide choice tidbits. You must march right over to Vinopolis (a quick sprint up Winchester Street from Borough Market) to partake of all the fun.

I'd read about Paul A. Young's perfect brownies on David Lebovitz so natch made a bee line for those first. More fudgy-ganachie than cake-like. Basically luscious. There are limited edition flavours-of-the-month like 'Bonfire' on right now - with black cardamom, stem ginger and dark muscovado sugar. Who knew?

Swedish Akesson's exquisite packaging drew me in and the taste was superb. Exquisiteness right and left. These from Budapest.

More from Szanto Tibor - they are NOT salamis!

Italian Amadei was present - a super duper chocolate.

Write your name in chocolate on the graffiti wall...

Or drink yourself silly with Tempranillo chocolate-infused wine...

Tastes, tastes, tastes! So much to taste.

British traditional chocolate maker Charbonel was there - the champagne truffles...sigh

Lots of chocolate covered nibs...

I bought these chrunchy munchy seeds (nibs really). She could have easily sold me the Brooklyn bridge as well...

The idea is you buy small boxes of handmade artisinal chocolates, like these from William Curley. Then you eat them quickly. No keeping for a month or two like in the old days. My parents 'hid' chocolates in the bottom drawer in the living room - they never lasted a month. We had hungry elves in the house you know...

So many samples in Paul's chocolate lecture. So many illegible notes. Must remember not to eat the foil. These are too good. The foil is left slightly open so Paul's chockies can breath. Don't miss Paul on Twitter for lots of insider choc tips..

And a TON of spinning. This is the best chocolate ice cream I've ever tasted! Thank you Ecuadorian Chocolate Counsel. I could go on and on but if you're in London, hop over to Chocolate Week at Vinopolis and see for yourself.

I had to end the day with some meringue right?

I've never tasted a Pavlova before, but it turns out to be mostly whipped creme, not a favorite of mine. Don't scold Lester Please. I picked off the fruit and left the rest. Chalk it up to too much chocolate.

Chocolate salamis are following me: I noticed several pasticcerie in Venice carry smaller versions of it. In Austria, a Schokoladesalami is a winter treat, often mailed to students from their loving grandmothers.

I have had Pavlovas that had only enough cream to bed the fruit just so, emphasis was on the meringue.

Boy, you are Very Lucky!!You should start a tour company - I think you'd make a fortune - just me sure everyone has medical coverage :)I love chocolate - I love your photos of chocolate!It all looks good1

... looks like great fun ... just for a day .. then I'm "NO" too ... did have choco wine once, it was pretty darn good ... (p.s. I have had great pavlovas that look nothing like this and are fab, bites only though) ... xo

I have put lemon curd on my pavlova to bed strawberries, so there is one answer to your crust quandary, Carol!I am in a stupor from just looking at the chocolate show offerings!!!! but some chocolate wine might just be the hair the dog cure, right?Oh, like Nikkon, I would book a tour if you ever decide to change careers!

Such mouthwatering photos, I can almost taste the yummy items!! Sad to say, however, I have such an allergy to chocolate (it gives me debilitating migraines) that I haven't had any in over ten years. Glad you're there to record things, as the smell alone would cause a headache for me, and besides, you're a *much* better photographer. :)

Oh how sensational. So much great stuff. Almost too much! How to try everything all at once? I'm sorry your pavlova experience suffered at the end there. You'll have to try it again on a day with slightly less chocolate. And it should have a higher pav to cream ratio. As Jerri-Ann said lemon curd does also work rather delightfully on your pav too.

PB - Inspired by your Lemon Tarte posts, having grown up in Australia (that along with New Zealand claims to be the home of Pavlova), and having a lemon tree that doesn't quit - I have created the PB Pavlova in your honor SANS Creme! I'll send you pics! The ultimate Lemon Meringue.

This blog is so perfect! I loved reading about Chocolate week and the photos are terrific! I was at the Chelsea Market today and happily sampled chocolates:))I bought some Beligian chocolates, soo good. HOpe you are having a terrific time. How can you not surrounded by all that chocolate LOL!

I just had my first ChocoWine this past weekend. I liked it a lot, and so did about 4 of 5 others at the dinner. It had more of a alcohol bite than I expected, but not to an unpleasant level. Our bottle was 14% alcohol. You could just tell it had a bit of a kick.

ParisBreakfast Letters

♥carol gillott♥

l'Ile Saint Louis, Paris, Ile de France, France

Hi I'm Carol Gillott,
My Mom taught me watercolors at 5. I'm still at it but now tripping over cobblestones on l'Ile Saint-Louis In Paris. Savor Parisbreakfast with a hot chocolate and croissant.
I paint Paris dreams.